03-16-06 - Iraq-US forces launch biggest air raid since war The operation, involving more than 1,500 Iraqi and coalition troops and 50 aircraft, was announced shortly after the new parliament was sworn in still without any agreement on a new government as the country edges dangerously close to civil war.

03-16-06 - Britain, France Urge Quick Action on Iran Russia and China, allies of Tehran, are not as skeptical of its intentions and believe that tough council action could lead Iran to withdraw from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and expel inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency.

03-16-06 - High-level meeting on Iran set for Monday at U.N Russia and China are resisting proposals from Britain, France and the United States that would express "serious concern" about Iran's nuclear program and ask it to comply with demands from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The statement does not threaten sanctions.

03-16-06 - Bolton: U.N. Will Send Iran Strong Signal U.S. Ambassador John Bolton said Thursday the U.N. Security Council appears determined to send a "strong and clear signal" to Tehran about its suspect nuclear program, after a meeting of the powerful U.N. body that he described as the best so far.

03-16-06 - Is Another 9/11 in the Works? Opinion polls indicate that the Bush regime has succeeded in its plan to make Americans fear Iran as the greatest threat America faces...In recent statements President Bush and Pentagon chief Donald Rumsfeld blamed Iran for the Iraqi resistance, claiming that the roadside bombs used by the resistance are being supplied by Iran From yesterday's news: "The United States does not have proof that Iran's government is responsible for the presence of Iranian weapons and military personnel in Iraq, the top U.S. military officer said on Tuesday" From Reuters.

03-16-06 - US Homeland Security delegation in Israel next week The Export Institute said yesterday that a 120-strong delegation from the US Department of Homeland Security would visit Israel next week. The delegation, which will comprise experts in the fields of security, internal defense and homeland security will attend a conference in Jerusalem, where they will study Israeli technologies and solutions for homeland security issues. The conference will be attended by dozens of Israeli companies, which will exhibit products and technologies for explosives detection, surveillance and armor. There's a big irony. If you don't know what it is, then you haven't been paying attention.

03-16-06 - U.S. bill would fund Israeli security research Israel is named as an ally in the war on terror in a U.S. congressional bill that would fund international cooperation for homeland security....The funding for international cooperation would be at least 2.5 percent of the total U.S. research and development budget. ???????????????????

03-16-06 - The Abu Ghraib files 279 photographs and 19 videos from the Army's internal investigation record a harrowing three months of detainee abuse inside the notorious prison -- and make clear that many of those responsible have yet to be held accountable.

03-16-06 - Moussaoui case may become latest 'flub' The Bush administration says that more than 400 people have been charged with terrorism-related crimes and that 228 have been convicted. But LA Weekly points out that "the vast majority of these cases have involved minor crimes not directly related to terrorism, such as immigration violations."

03-16-06 - John Thomas: 'The IRS, the IRD, and Red State / Blue State Religion' If the IRD were merely a think tank on the nexus of religion and politics from a neo-conservative perspective, there would be little to complain about even from those who disagree sharply. But the agenda is far less benign....This past summer the IRD launched an advocacy effort aimed at undermining the mainline churches? long standing support of justice for Palestinians in the Middle East conflict. As church assemblies addressed the Occupation, the security barrier or wall, and in some cases the use of economic leverage - either divestment or positive investment - to advocate for an end to the occupation, the IRD and its related organizations joined with some Jewish organizations to vigorously challenge these resolutions....Since our Synod, the Wiesenthal Center, the David Project, and the Anti-Defamation League have been eager allies for IRD related organizations within the United Church of Christ in an on-going strategy of disinformation and disruption. The IRD agenda matches that of AIPAC, the powerful pro-Israel lobby that largely controls the Washington agenda on Middle East policy. What was striking in this instance, however, was that the debates were not among United Church of Christ members or Disciple of Christ members; the debates were between the church and others outside the church Those CHURCHES that don't toe the pro-Israeli line are now being targeted.

03-16-06 - Syria opposition vows unity to oust Assad Khaddam forecast "regime change" in Damascus this year, within a few months, because he said Assad was making many mistakes and "digging himself into a hole" and the economic and social situation was becoming more intolerable

03-16-06 - When All That's Left is Aipac The defendants' former employer has denied any knowledge of or connection to "Aipac-gate." But it's very possible that once the media start focusing on Aipac's inner workings in federal court, the organization - and therefore the entire pro-Israel community - will be on trial in the court of public opinion. Critics of Israel and its overwhelming influence brought to bear over our government by its well-financed and powerful US lobby AIPAC are branded 'anti-Semitic', 'anti-Zionist' 'Jew-bashers' by the author of this article. Naturally.

03-16-06 - Congress urges religious freedom in Russia It is aimed particularly at protecting "unregistered" religions, particular non-Eastern Orthodox Christian groups, but cites attacks on all minority religions. Judaism is a registered religion, but Jewish targets have also been subject to attacks in recent years.

03-16-06 - The time for accounting The pledge that all this suffering would at least assist a solution to the Palestinian question has proved painfully hollow, with the Israelis ram-raiding a Palestinian prison in Jericho - just like British troops in Basra. But still the war junkies seem to believe one more hit - this time against Iran - will lead to the breakthrough to the docile Middle East they desire

03-16-06 - From Massacre to Militia: The Case Against Palestinian Disarmament in Lebanon Two days after the PLO fighters were evacuated, Israel deployed its armed forces around the refugee camps of Sabra and Shatila in breach of the cease-fire agreement. Nevertheless, Israel was not asked to withdraw by the supervising international forces. On the evening of Sept. 16, 1982, then Israeli Defense Minister Ariel Sharon reportedly invited Lebanese Phalangist militia units to enter the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps. For the next 36 to 48 hours, they massacred 3,000 to 3,500 unarmed Palestinian refugees. It's strange our government's insistance that Lebanon implement UN resolutions when it has refused to insist that Israel implement any of the scores of UN resolutions that it has been in violation of for over thirty years.